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Thursday, July 17, 2008
Phillies acquire Blanton
Associated Press

The Phillies got help for their starting rotation, acquiring righthander Joe Blanton from Oakland for three minor leaguers -- infielder Adrian Cardenas, lefthander Josh Outman and outfielder Matt Spencer. Cardenas was the No. 2 prospect in the Phillies' system, according to Baseball America, and Outman was ranked No. 4.

Blanton, 27, once considered one of the A’s top young prospects, but has had a disappointing season thus far. He is 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA and has lost six of his last eight starts. He has a 3.87 ERA in 17 of his 20 starts and is tied for sixth in the American League in innings (127), having gone at least six innings in 16 starts. Blanton has the seventh-lowest run support average in the AL.

In his four-year career, Blanton is 47-46 with a 4.25 ERA.

One of his victories this season came against the Phillies on June 24. Blanton’s only mistake in seven innings was a Pat Burrell home run in the A’s 5-2 victory. 

"It's one of those deals where it's very bittersweet," Blanton told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I'm going to a very good team with a very good lineup. They're in the division hunt and they're out to win a championship, and that's what any player wants. But I've always been with the A's, and I have great relationships there. It's one of those double-sided coins."

Like Brett Myers did for the Phillies, Blanton was Oakland’s Opening Day starter. He gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings in a loss to Boston in Japan. 

“We’ve been attempting to upgrade our rotation and we feel like we’ve done that,” Phillies assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said in a statement. “We think Joe is a very strong, competitive pitcher that has the mental makeup to pitch productively in a pennant race. He pitches a lot of innings and takes some burden off the bullpen.”

Outman, 23, was 5-4 with one save and a 3.20 ERA in 33 games (5 starts) for Double A Reading.

Cardenas, 20, was hitting .309 in 67 games for Single A Clearwater.

Spencer, 22, was hitting .249 with six home runs and 41 RBI in 84 games for Clearwater.

Posted by Josh Barnett @ 7:12 PM  Permalink | 44 comments
44
Comments   
Posted 07:19 PM, 07/17/2008
Leron
Gillick, you old senile dufus. This was the best you could do?! Please retire already you fossil!
Posted 07:43 PM, 07/17/2008
Wally Ritchie
This is not a bad deal and certainly the best that was left. Blanton pitches innings. Look at his career stats and his record would be better if they surrounded him with some actual offense instead of low average, 25 HR people like Chavez and Cust.
Posted 07:49 PM, 07/17/2008
mjb
I am blown away by this signing. Blown blown blown away. Pennant here we come. Not.
Posted 07:50 PM, 07/17/2008
BTH
This doesn't look good at all. Cardenas might not have had a future with the Phils but you would think Gillick could use him to get a better piece then Blanton. Not happy.
Comment removed.
Posted 08:07 PM, 07/17/2008
BobbyD
I think it's a good deal considering what other pitchers were available. Certainly an upgrade over Adam Eaton.
Posted 08:22 PM, 07/17/2008
wmontanez27
Gillick was the guy that traded away Floyd for an injured Garcia. Does this team really scout personnel? What scares me the most is the fact that this team will trade away more prospects before the end of the year. This organization and the government are running neck to neck to which is run poorer.
Posted 08:22 PM, 07/17/2008
MrPhillie
I don't hate this deal, but I don't think it is the one to put the Phillies over the top. Yes, they could really use a guy who goes out and pitches a lot of innings while keeping you in the game, but I hope the front office and fans do not expect Blanton to be our Sabathia. Nice move, not a great move. Given that Blanton is only 27, it's not a terrible deal, even with Cardenas included. That said, the Phils better hope Myers performs as the front office seems to think he can. He needs to be a reliable shut-down starter. Your "number 2" starter simply cannot ave 2 1/3 inning games.
Posted 08:29 PM, 07/17/2008
TexasKen
How many hours in the the board room did this decision take? I would say one sitting on the toilet. Yea, there you go, 5-12 record and one more bad inning away from a 5.00+ ERA? Don't we already have a couple of those barnicles on the team already? Tell Gillick he might want to read Coste's book, he use to pitch, give him the pill, can't be any worse than Eaton but then again one of the local little leaguers can't be worse than Eaton and I know they would be cheaper. Upgrade, yea, for the Met's and Marlins for sure.
Posted 08:47 PM, 07/17/2008
rockinrob
Outamn could be very good so this deal stinks.
Posted 09:01 PM, 07/17/2008
Phillyfan28
this is an obvious upgrade, and not a bad deal considering that they did not give up carassco, marson, or golson.
Posted 09:25 PM, 07/17/2008
cg
I think what everyone is forgetting is that usually ERAs are higher in the AL because the pitcher doesn't hit in their games. The other thing people are forgetting is that Gillick may have brought us Garcia for Floyd, but he also brought in Moyer who has been good for us, Loshe (who had a similar ERA and record when he came over) last year, he brought us Brad Lidge who's been very good. He's also brought in Romero who has been extremely consistent for us and signed Durbin. Give him 5 starts before passing judgement. I will miss Outman because I think he was the best prospect we gave up that had a chance with us but on the other hand, we didn't give up Carrasco, Marson, Donald, or Golson. There very well may be a bigger move on the horizon with those pieces still in the cupboard. If they can swing for front-line starter Brett can move to setup and they can put Flash out in the pasture. I think that you may be pleasantly surprised with this deal.
Posted 09:27 PM, 07/17/2008
cg
Phillyfan28, I could not agree more with you. I think the ERA will drop because a lot of these teams haven't seen him and the switch from AL to NL will help since he'll face the pitcher now too.
Posted 09:44 PM, 07/17/2008
northphillyboy
will the real baseball fans step up, he was 10-10, 26-12 and 14-10 the previous 3 seasons, he is getting no run support this year and his era is inflated because of three bad starts, this is a good trade.
Posted 09:53 PM, 07/17/2008
wmontanez27
CG made excellent points about his recent deals. Outman will cost this organization. The organization should have kept him as a starter this year. Phillie fans will be upset with every win win he garners in Oakland. Billy is not stupid. He took this organization. It is not Blanton's fault. He will compete. The park will truly hurt him a lot. Lohse is going to win again tonight.
Posted 09:55 PM, 07/17/2008
Leron
Looks like Brett Myers has some serious competition now for goofiest facial hair.
Posted 09:57 PM, 07/17/2008
ACBaughman
Charlie just got more of what he already has.
Posted 09:59 PM, 07/17/2008
Philly Fan in Kuwait
At least Victorino or Carrasco weren't involved. Would have like Burnett, but I think with some run support it could work.
Posted 10:41 PM, 07/17/2008
yahmpy
If I hear one more post about about the all-encompassing awesomeness of Billy Beane, I'm gonna laugh myself to sleep. Never has Billy Beane been cited for anything by a Phillies fan on here until tonight, now he is infallible. Beane, sabermetrics, cost-efficient baseball, blahblahblah. It took him nine years just to win a playoff round as GM, and has never even won a World Series as a GM (Gillick has won two, remember). Sell me that praise when Beane turns all that hype into a championship.
Posted 10:55 PM, 07/17/2008
sfw
good deal. Need innings. Add a decent(hopefully) Bret Myers and this rotation looks solid. Only one prospect of consequence given uo for a 200+ innings a year pitcher. I like it A lot!
Posted 11:14 PM, 07/17/2008
thefanatic
Blanton is not going to stop the Mets. Their lefties will feast on him. And Citizens will do him no favors. Look for his ERA to go UP, not down. We're doomed!
Posted 11:17 PM, 07/17/2008
wmontanez27
What would Billy Beane do with financial backing? Gillick won years ago in a totally different setting. Trade Golson or Donald. Don't trade a talented lefty. Outman should have been starting this year. Then another option would have been available at this time. Nothing against Blanton. I prefer using the few prospects to make the Phillies better and not someone else.
Posted 11:18 PM, 07/17/2008
wmontanez27
Thefanatic is correct! blanton will be booed. However, the organization should be.
Posted 11:30 PM, 07/17/2008
jamarder
this is a good trade because we didn't give up a major prospect. He's not an ace, but he's better than Eaton... not much more we can do except give up top prospects from an already depleted farm system for someone like CC... so I'm all for this deal. Blanton is 27, makes only $3.7 million, and I read somewhere that he's signed until 2010. This is not a world series winning move, but better than standing put
Posted 11:32 PM, 07/17/2008
trinitystar21
This deal is pretty good, one you get a good starting pitcher till 2010 so it's not a one year rental. You get a solid number 2 pitcher behind Cole Hamels, and the numbers don't really show his true pitching ability. We did give up Josh Outman, but the second baseman would have never been called up since Chase Utley there and the other outfielder was even that good, so this deal is a good one.
Posted 11:36 PM, 07/17/2008
trinitystar21
i total agree with northphillyboy, blanton was the A's ace last year, and this year he just hasnt got run support.
Posted 12:17 AM, 07/18/2008
JimG
The Phils can't win with some of you. You want them to trade for all-stars, give up no prospects, dump exorbitant salaries, acquire guys who can't be free-agents for several years, etc. This isn't fantasy baseball or a video game. Other GMs just don't give away their good, young, cheap talent for nothing. It's like you wouldn't be satisfied here unless the Phils acquired Roy Halladay for 3 Class A scrubs. Well, welcome to reality. This was a solid trade for the Phils who need to try to win now and not 5 years from now. They are in 1st-place, not 5th place. Blanton is young, throws a lot of innings, has had some success the last few years before his recent slump, doesn't give up a ton of homers and can't be a free-agent for a few years. He's got good upside, he can contribute right now and he's not overpiced and injury-prone like the other realistic options out there (Burnett, Bedard, etc.). Obviously the Phils didn't value Outman that highly as they turned him into a reliever this year. Baseball America rankings are like college football polls - they are meaningless. The most ready to contribute prospects we have are Carrasco, Marson, Golson and Donald. Outman and Cardenas aren't close to being major league ready and certainly aren't can't miss prospects. They may never even make it to the show. We didn't mortage our immediate future here, not by any stretch of the imagination. Eaton will go to the pen to pitch in long relief and provide insurance in case one of the starters gets hurt. The Phils aren't paying Myers what they are paying him to be a set-up man, he'll stay in the rotation. Since Blanton isn't that expensive salary-wise, I'd still like to see them pick up another set up reliever in case Gordon's injury problems continue.
Posted 12:27 AM, 07/18/2008
phillyrealist
I don't hate the deal... I don't love the deal. I kind of had the same feelings last year with Lohse. He didn't blow me away either. But anyone is better than Adam Eaton. I might be better than Eaton and I never pitched a day in my life.
Posted 01:13 AM, 07/18/2008
jp
Okay, this is Eaton's replacement. Don't stop now. Let's get another arm to replace the uninspiring Myers. Put both Myers and Eaton in the bullpen. I know that's a scary proposition, what with their propensity to give up early runs, but it's our only choice. Acquiring the services of another guy, like the O's Guthrie or someone like him, would be of great benefit to the staff.
Posted 01:30 AM, 07/18/2008
ematusko
This deal is awful. We trade 2 of the strongest prospects, from an already weak farm system, for a fat boy bottom of the rotation guy, at best. I would rather watch Happ take his lumps and hope that Myers can be half decent when he returns. Buy out that turd Eaton, and we're all set. It's all moot now. Thanks alot Gillick....one helluva a swan song your senile old muppett.
Comment removed.
Posted 02:57 AM, 07/18/2008
comin4ya23
Outman is 24 and in AA. He's not a blue chip. He's probably not going to pan out to be better than Blanton if he makes it to the majors. We get to keep Carrasco, which is huge. Gillick's been terrible, but this move was as good as it gets for what he gave up. Blanton's better than Lohse and definitely better than Eaton.
Posted 05:55 AM, 07/18/2008
overtaxed
An Adam Eaton twin?
Posted 07:08 AM, 07/18/2008
kellester
Blanton hopefully will be this year's Kyle Lohse. Lohse's record was about the same and he was great for the Phils last year and look how great he's pitching this year. There's also the fact he's coming from the AL. AL pitchers have been great for the Phillies. Durbin or Romero anyone?
Posted 07:55 AM, 07/18/2008
mick314
Good trade. Quality upgrade from mediocre Eaton to a Lohse type addition. Check out Happ's performance last night with 'pigs. Move him into #5 slot and drop off the appropriately named BM in the Everglades.
Posted 08:40 AM, 07/18/2008
DaFranchise
Listen let's stay focused here for a minute. Blanton is a definite upgrade over Eaton no question. Now's he definitely not the A listed Charlie wanted but he's an upgrade none the less. I have to believe there's still a deal out there for another starter based on the package we gave to Oakland which really is a good deal all in all. Everyone has been asking about Lohse ok now we essentially have acquired that guy in the name of Blanton. I believe Myers will eventually be the 8th inning guy as they make a couple of more moves to get LH relief and starter.
Posted 08:58 AM, 07/18/2008
thefanatic
The "better than Eaton" line reminds me of the joke where the cannibals ask the two missionaries to choose between death and "chichi". The first figures anything is better than death so she chooses chichi and all manner of unspeakable things befall her, until she finally expires. The second, witnessing all this chooses death, hoping it be quick and relatively less painful. "Then death it shall be" says the chief, "but first chichi". We're doomed!
Posted 09:43 AM, 07/18/2008
doorspj24
Blanton or Eaton. Take your pick. No need to overanalyze.
Posted 09:52 AM, 07/18/2008
HappyPete
Cardenas is a better prospect than Golson, and Outman had a good career going until the Phillies for some reason inexplicably made him a reliever. I'm fine getting Blanton, but not at the price we paid. I would have preferred to send Golson instead of Cardenas. Golson stinks.
Posted 11:11 AM, 07/18/2008
Drago
Re Blanton's lack of run support, it would require rigorous statistical research to back up, but I wonder how much of a pitcher's lack of run support is self-inflicted, by letting the other team get the lead, thereby causing the pitcher's own team to hit worse. I mean, it seems to me that the Phils have a much harder time scoring runs when they're in the hole, especially big holes early, than when they have the lead or are close.
Posted 11:20 AM, 07/18/2008
Drago
Oh, and about Myers becoming a setup guy, isn't he still having trouble in the minors in his first innings? If so, then the only reason to expect better in the bullpen than the rotation is if we think (with little evidence and much hope) that his pitching problems are primarily mental and his mindset would change in the pen.
Posted 01:54 PM, 07/18/2008
MUMMER
This deal was not that bad given the corner the Phillies painted themselves into. This deal was necessitated by three really bad moves previously done by Gillick. 1. Trading for an injured F. Garcia, 2. Committing $24.5 million to a pitcher like Adam Eaton, and 3. Not extending K. Lochse last season before the season ended. Now they are running around trying to fill holes that they maneuvered themselves into in the first place. I also think the Phillies went into this season with expectations for Brett Myers that were set way too high for a pennant contender and given Myers' past. Yes, he performed nicely as the closer last year, but Myers is a "head case", who constantly needs reinforcement regarding how good a pitcher he is. That's what happened last year. He had some success in the bullpen (when the Phils were desperate) and everyone kept saying what a great closer he was, and he kept feeding off of that. That is why he still wants to close. I believe he has lost his confidence as a starter. Face it, until he matures, he will never be a "horse" starter ala Schilling, and he may never fully come around. That is why the Phils must prepare for the future with Myers being counted on as no more than a 3rd starter until he proves over an entire season that he is capable of being a one or a two. Anyway, Blanton comes in as the number 2, he's 27, he's ours thru 2010. I'm inclined to give him a shot. He has to be an upgrade from Eaton, whom I personally would release today with Swindle, our new left handed "specialist" who seems to specialize in giving up runs and hits.
Posted 02:23 PM, 07/18/2008
DonEck
Any thoughts on a starting rotation of Hamels, Moyer, Kendrick, Blanton, and Happ? Let Myers and Eaton and Gordon go ... anywhere but here, please? The phrase "catch lightning in a bottle," cannot happen unless you (the Phillies) let it happen.
Posted 02:45 PM, 07/18/2008
brinkmang
Billy Preston had a hit, "nothing from nothing leaves nothing". That's what this deal is. This guy is a fly ball pitcher in a band-box. Seems to me that JA Happ just got screwed. Myers in, Eaton to the bullpen, and big Joe throwing rockets red glare and homers bursting in the So Philly air. Don't bet the ranch on this team making the playoffs.
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David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times.

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